Sorrento Bathhouse by Davidov Architects

Tucked among the weathered moonahs, Sorrento Bathhouse by Davidov Architects offers a serene refuge – an ancillary pavilion evoking the atmospheric richness and meditative qualities of a Japanese onsen.

Embedded within a generous site on the coastal outcrop of the Mornington Peninsula, this compact, gabled form presents as a reductive shelter of respite. Defined by the spaces within, it is a sanctuary in every sense – a place where family and friends can gather and unwind, immersed in the spiritual calm of a traditional steam room.

“The bathhouse responds to its context by drawing inspiration from the simple gabled forms of the local vernacular, particularly the sheds and boathouses of the peninsula.”

Sorrento Bathhouse by Davidov Architects is a refined expression of the longstanding attributes that define its primary function. Nestled in the southern corner of a private backyard, the compact pavilion serves as an independent, ancillary retreat to a family holiday home. “The project was conceived through the vision of our long-term clients who sought to build a spa and jacuzzi,” explains Robert Davidov, founder and project architect. “The design direction was informed by a simple yet powerful brief: to provide a place of wellness and relaxation.”

Devised as an assemblage of weighty forms, Sorrento Bathhouse operates as a serene bookend to a broader recreational expanse. Flanked by a structured tennis court, the pavilion offers a place of refuge amid the changeable seasons of its exposed setting. “The bathhouse responds to its context by drawing inspiration from the simple gabled forms of the local vernacular, particularly the sheds and boathouses of the peninsula,” notes Davidov. Reminiscent of Philip Johnson’s Rothko Chapel, the architecture is restrained, contemplative and resoundingly poetic, evoking the atmospheric stillness of an onsen.

“The project asserts that luxury is not about excess but rather a deliberate spatial clarity.”

Composed as an experiential sequence of rooms, the bathhouse invites one to traverse a communal domain of brushed Grey Stone tiles and timber-clad walls, before entering an enveloping sauna discreetly shielded from the outside world. This introspective journey culminates in a sunken spa, poised beneath a vaulted ceiling of diffused, cascading light. Surfaces are tactile, grounded and soft – imbued with a profound sense of quiet solitude. “The project asserts that luxury is not about excess but rather a deliberate spatial clarity,” explains Davidov. Seemingly carved from a monolithic envelope of rendered brick and aluminium insertions, the atmospheric shift – from a robust concrete shell to an interior of tonal warmth – marks a heightened sensory experience.

Orientated for thermal comfort, a west-facing loggia provides protection from the intensity of long summer days, its earthen palette expressing enduring resolve. Comprising a suspended concrete slab, the new construction rests lightly upon the land, a conscious gesture to preserve the root systems of the native trees that encircle the site. “Excavation was carried out by hand to avoid damage to these protected species,” notes Davidov. This is a pavilion deeply attuned to its context, embodying the timeless custodial values of multigenerational architecture.

Reduced to its purest form, the compact structure acts as a protective armature for the soft, sensory interior within.

On Victoria’s coastal headland, Sorrento Bathhouse emerges as a recreational refuge. Reduced to its purest form, the compact structure acts as a protective armature for the soft, sensory interior within. Set against a landscape of weathered moonahs, it is a place for intimate gatherings – where tactility, volume and spirituality converge through unwavering intent.

Architecture by Davidov Architects.